NEWS FROM THE LAND OF CEDARS

Last year the Workers Solidarity Movement took part in an
international libertarian meeting in Spain. The following article is
based on a report from Basina Bassan, a Lebanese anarchist, which
originally appeared in the French journal Alternative Libertaire.

"The second Lebanese Republic faces serious problems. Although the
war was ended by the 1989 Taef agreements, the underlying cause of
the war - the religious divide - has not really been addressed, and
so the situation remains explosive. For example, although the Taef
agreements required that civil service recruitment must ignore
religious denomination, we still find near-perfect segregation
between, and within departments. This mirrors the division of the
higher political functionaries - President of the Republic, President
of the National Assembly, etc. - into Christian positions and Moslem
positions. What is worse is that you cannot choose to remain beyond
this division - if you want to marry, for example, you must have a
religious service for it to be legally recognised. You can be an
atheist only in your thoughts, no more...

SOCIAL SITUATION

The situation is charged by the continuing presence of Syrian and
Israeli troops. What's more, civil liberties are coming under
increased attack. In July of last year, the General Union of Workers
(an umbrella organisation similar to ICTU) decided to organise a
general strike to protest against the 40% increase in the price of
petrol. The government replied with a ban on demonstrations, and
called in the army to enforce it. The Lebanese unions did not
retreat, and held a huge demonstration in August to force the
government to rethink their position. Even this, though, falls far
short of the changes that are needed.

Lebanon is a land of unrestrained capitalism, with a government in
favour of economic liberalism and privatisation - this in a country
with little electricity, few telephones, and little clean drinking
water. The wages of the most impoverished continue to fall, while the
rich avoid paying their taxes, and what money there is the government
spends on luxuries for its ministers.

THE OPPOSITION - AGAINST WHO AND WHAT

There is little to say about the Lebanese left - much of it is
identical to the petit-bourgeois parties, more interested in getting
a bigger slice of the cake than with real change. Its members
actually support the liberal economic policies of the government - it
is strange to sometimes hear the old Maoists quoting Marx to justify
their 'provisional return' to capitalism.

THE NEW LEFT

Following the repression of the July demonstrations, the radical
communist left is starting to regroup. It is made up of many
political strands, but it is noticeable that even the nationalists
are becoming more influenced by libertarianism, even
anarcho-syndicalism. There is, then, a glimmer of hope, providing
everyone learns the bitter lessons of experience. If we can work
together in our areas of agreement, we may be able to regain the good
years of 1970-75, before the war overtook the radical left.

In conclusion, the Lebanese left will have no chance to progress
if it is not open to all who agree with certain fundamental criteria:
combating the Israeli occupation, fighting for secularisation,
collectivisation of vital sectors (health, education...), the
safeguarding of public liberties, equality between women and men,
openness to the 'advanced west', openness to agreement on the left...

Striking Back

THE LEBANESE General Union of Workers called a strike and
demonstration for February 29th. Their claim was for increased wages
to keep up with inflation, more freedom of expression and an end to
bans on demonstrations. On February 27th the government and army
declared a curfew for the 28th and 29th.

There was no demonstration but the strike took place all over the
country. This is the first time we have seen a curfew used to stop a
demonstration. The government is afraid of workers' anger, the
minimum salary is $150 but the cost of living is as high as in
Europe. The government's 'justification' for the ban is the conflict
with Israel!